Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva

Brewed by De Struise Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Oostvleteren, Belgium

Bottle vintage 2006. The bottle looks really good, the beer in the glass also. Starts malty and strong, modest sweet, not too dry. Then spicy, warming maltiness. Well balanced finish, still spicy and sweet. Very good. Big thanks to Bierkoning for that beer!

Bottle with yalnikim (in NZ), poured brown with a large foamy brown head, with great lacing down the glass. Biscuity malt on the nose, with nutty and sugary notes. A refreshing sourness on the palate, balancing some sugary flavours. Maybe had too many on this night to appreciate it as much as others.

33cL bottle. A meaty fist of alcohol punches my nose and bowls me over with apple-puckered gin. Surprisingly savory and bold. Gutsy. An amalgamation of malt roast and barrel char meet for a real chewy kick of smoke. Pours a vibrant ruby-mahogany, clear with a long, sweeping lace in mocha. Palate gives that explosive foam, I’m used to. This follows with a quick dispersion of flavors. There’s definitely a smokey corner to this beer, running over some sweet apple, pear, and almond extract edges. There’s a tangy, aged malt waft that adds some balance to the crispness of the alcohols and the murky underlying fire. This doesn’t quite have the sprightly explosiveness I remember with the straight version, but I do appreciate the Calvados inflection and some of the more smokey notes I’m picking up in this barrel version. An old-Fullers-like hop dust graces the backend with some lemon character. Even with the barrel addition, this beer maintains its palate deftness without compromise. And that’s something I can really appreciate. Warming, the spice picks up steam and adds some needing complexity. Thanks Sammy!

Courtesy hopscotch. Thanks for sharing Eric!! POurs a fairly clear maroon copper color, with a small swirly light brown head. Smells of sweet apples and dark fruits, along with dark malts, grapes, and a touch of brandy and oak as well. The flavor is of bigger sweet apples, along with the more profound oak and dark malty characters. Almost more subtle and less intense than the other Pannepots, but this had a pleasant calmness about it that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Sampled at Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà in Roma and then again at Monk’s Cafe in Stockholm. I was underwhelmed both times. Mostly I failed to see how the wood had that big of an influence on the beer. Lately, I have been drinking a lot of regular Pannepot 2006 (nearly 2 years old, its amazing.) That beer has more complexity to me than the Grand Reserva. So yes, this was a tasty beer, but I expected more oak character.

330 ml bottle. Dark brown body with a beige head. Aroma is sweet malty, caramel, brown sugar, dry fruit, spices with a hint of vanilla and smoke. Flavor lives up to the expectations of the aroma. Sweet malty, caramel, mild smoke, vanilla, dry fruit, syrup, liquorices and a tiny hint of acidulous that just suits this beer perfect. A classic.

2005 bottle
Deep burgundy colour, firm head. Vinous aroma with notes of red berries, liquorice and calvados. Flavour is vinous with sweet notes of malt, currants, sour cherries, calvados, and oak. I can even sense a slight roastiness. The finish is alcohol bitter and warming.

Bottle labeled vintage 2005 - does that mean there will be more of these... Awesome. Pours a clear dark brown with a medium off-white head and a few yeast floaties. Loew sweetness with a mellow berry-like sourness and a very light bitterness. Aromas of raisins, fondue cheese, cask wood and berries. Hints of smoke. Tiny alcohol notes. Long slightly dry berry like dry finish. OK, I thought this would be a hyped up version of the regular Poannepot... but I was wrong. It is SO good. I espesially like the berry-ish/red wine like sourness. It gives it a nice and really fresh touch.